Jazz Jennings’ dad break down in tears over trans sports ban in moving video
Jazz Jennings has spoken out against trans sports bans. (Kristina Bumphrey/Variety via Getty Images)
Jazz Jennings has shared the powerful moment her dad broke down in tears over a trans sports ban that stopped her from playing on the girls’ soccer team more than a decade ago.
In partnership with American Civil Liberties Union, and in a bid to stop bans on trans athletes, the trans reality TV star – who came out at five and starred in documentary series I Am Jazz – shared a clip of her father reacting to her being banned from playing on the girls’ soccer team at just eight years old.
“Your decision has taken away a piece of her heart and her parents,” her father said through tears in an archive clip posted by Jennings.
There are currently 27 states that have laws banning trans students from participating in sports in line with chosen gender identity, however, some are currently blocked from enforcement by court order.
“This clip makes me emotional every single time I watch it,” the 25-year-old said in response to the powerful moment.
“It’s the reality so many transgender kids are now facing, even fifteen years after this video was taken. My dad said it ripped a piece of his heart and the family’s, and he was right.”
Jennings continued: “I played soccer, flag football, lacrosse, and tennis growing up. It’s how I made my best friends, gained resilience, and learned how to be part of a team. I was only eight years old when I was denied the right to play travel soccer. I was told I had a competitive advantage being assigned male at birth, but the truth was this was before male puberty, and I was one of the smallest girls on the team.”
She added: “No trans kid should be told you don’t belong. We don’t choose to be trans; it’s just who we are.”
Jennings then asked her followers to share what sports have taught them in the comments.
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